<p class="title">Three journalists were detained by the Tamil Nadu Police while covering the black flag protest against the Chennai-Salem Green Express Highway project in Thiruvannamalai district on Tuesday.</p>.<p class="bodytext"><span class="italic">Mathrubhumi TV</span> reporter K Anoop Das, cameraman Murugan and car driver Razak along with CPM mouthpiece <span class="italic">Theekkathir’s</span> reporter-cum-cameraman S Ramadoss were taken into custody by district police at the CPM office.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The journalists claimed that they were detained by the police despite being told that they were scribes and had come only to cover the protests.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Das claimed that the police manhandled him and refused to let him go even after he showed his press identity card.</p>.<p class="bodytext">They were let off only after a video sent by Das about the incident went viral on social media.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Superintended of Police R Ponni said that the journalists were detained when they were searching for some other accused there.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"They were let go once their identity was established," she said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Black flag protests were held in all five districts — Salem, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Thiruvannamalai and Kancheepuram — against the Rs 10,000 crore project which would require thousands of acres of farm lands.</p>
<p class="title">Three journalists were detained by the Tamil Nadu Police while covering the black flag protest against the Chennai-Salem Green Express Highway project in Thiruvannamalai district on Tuesday.</p>.<p class="bodytext"><span class="italic">Mathrubhumi TV</span> reporter K Anoop Das, cameraman Murugan and car driver Razak along with CPM mouthpiece <span class="italic">Theekkathir’s</span> reporter-cum-cameraman S Ramadoss were taken into custody by district police at the CPM office.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The journalists claimed that they were detained by the police despite being told that they were scribes and had come only to cover the protests.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Das claimed that the police manhandled him and refused to let him go even after he showed his press identity card.</p>.<p class="bodytext">They were let off only after a video sent by Das about the incident went viral on social media.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Superintended of Police R Ponni said that the journalists were detained when they were searching for some other accused there.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"They were let go once their identity was established," she said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Black flag protests were held in all five districts — Salem, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Thiruvannamalai and Kancheepuram — against the Rs 10,000 crore project which would require thousands of acres of farm lands.</p>
